Method of manufacturing figure toys



Patented july 25, 1 95 6 cr mes METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FIGURE r TOYS:

Louella M. Opel, Freeport, Ill Application August 20, 1948,'Serial No. 45,362

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in animal-simulating toys, such as a toy kitten, and to an improved method of manufacturing such toys.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved animal-simulating, toy which is formed entirely of yarn and fibre strands and which includes no stiff or rigid frame, yet is so constructed that all of its parts are firmly secured together and the yarn is firmly held in place, and to provide an improved method for manufacturing such toys which method is effective to produce toys of substantially uniform quality and appearance with a minimum amount of time and labor for each toy so produced, which is simple and inexpensive to carry out, requires no expensive equipment, and produces a toy of extremely attractive appearance and of a character which infants may use without danger.

Other objects and advantages will become aparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a frame upon which strands of yarn are wound to produce the toy;

Figure 2 shows the frame with yarn wound upon two portions thereof at an initial stage of the manufacturing process;

Figure 3 shows a later stage in the manufacturing process from that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a still later stage in the manufacturing process, wherein sufficient yarn has been wound upon the frame and properly taped and stitched to provide the completed toy;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the completed toy; and

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the toy illustrated in Figure 5.

With continued reference to the drawing, the frame, generally indicated at It), is preferably formed of wire and includes a rectangular loop I I from one end of which projects a rectangular tail extension l2 of approximately the same length as the main rectangular portion l I, but of a width materially less than that of the portion ll. At each end of the frame rectangle II the wire is outwardly re-curved to provide end stops l3 and a air of outwardly-projecting studs 14 are provided on each side member between each two end stops l3 at the same side of the frame. The two studs [4 of each pair are positioned along the frame side member at intervals to divide the length of the side member into three substantially equal portions. The tail extension I2 is provided at its outer end with end stops [5 disposed one at each side of the extension and each side member of the extension is provided with a pair of outwardly-projecting studs I6 spaced one near the end of the main rectangular portion from which the tail extension projects, and one near each end stop [5 of the tail extension.-

The initial stage of the manufacturing process comprises winding a length of wool yarn on the rectangular main portion of the frame between the lugs M, as indicated at ll in Figure 2, and

tying the strand so wound by a suitable tie l8 disposed substantially midway between the sides of the main rectangle of the frame. A length of wool yarn is also Wound on the tail extension I2 and between the studs l6,.as indicated at l9, and this winding of yarn is taped by a tape or strand 20 disposed substantially midway between the sides of the frame extension and secured to the yarn winding by stitching 2|.

After the initial stage, as illustrated in Figure 2, is completed, additional yarn is wound both on the main rectangle and the tail extension of the frame In until a sufiicient quantity of yarn has been provided to form the tail and the intermediate portion of the body of the toy, these additional windings being indicated at 22 and 23 in Figure 3. This additional winding is surrounded by a tape 24 which extends continuously around both the winding on the tail extension and the winding on the main rectangle of the frame to permanently secure the tail winding to the body winding of the completed figure. This tape is securely stitched to the yarn windings by stitches 25, and the ends are secured together at the front end'of the body winding by a suitable knot 26.

During the next stage of the process, yarn strands are applied in side-by-side relation over the end portions of the winding 22 on the main rectangle of the frame extending transversely to the strands of the winding 22, as indicated at 21 and 28 in Figure 4, and these strands are secured by respective tapes 29 and 30 extending around the end portions of the frame rectangle and secured to the yarn windings by stitching 3!. The tapes 29 and 30 are stitched to the tape 24 and tied bunches of yarn are then secured to the tapes 29 and 30 in position to provide four legs for the toy.

The yarn windings are then out along each edge of the frame, the frame removed and the cut ends of the yarn strands combed or -fiufied to provide rounded head, body and tail portions for the toy, and rounded legs. The yarn is then trimmed to provide the desired shape and the toy is ornamented with appurtenances, such as ears and eyes, and in the case of the toy kitten illustrated, with whiskers and a ribbon neckband.

The yarn used may be of different colors, as may be desired, to provide a vari-colored toy, or may be of any one desired color.

The toy produced, as generally indicated at 32 in Figures 5 and 6, is of a soft and fluffy nature without any internal frame, and yet has all of its parts, such as the head portion 33, body portion 34, tail portion 35, and leg portions 36 firmly secured together against separation even when the toy is roughly handled. The yarn is also se-' curely fastened in place by the various stitchings 2|, 2-5 and 31 so that it cannot be'pull'ed loose from the toy by an infant or small child to whom.

the toy might be given.

The invention may be embodied in other'specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

The method of producing'an animal-simulating toy which comprises winding yarn upon the intermediate portion of a rectangular wire frame, tying said yarn intermediate the width of said frame, winding yarn on a rectangular tail extension of said frame, taping and stitching said lastmentioned yarn intermediate the width of the frame extension, winding additional yarn on said frame and tail extension, taping said additional yarn with continuous tapes intermediate the width of said frame and tail extension and stitching said tapes, applying yarn strands at the ends of said frame transverse to the yarn already wound on the frame, taping and stitching said transverseyarn strands, 'seciirihg' tied bundles of yarnstra'nd's to the tapes of said transversely applied strands to provide legs for the toy, cutting the wound yarn strands along both edges of the frame and removing the frame, flufdng and trimrning the cut yarn to provide rounded head, body and tail portions of the toy, and decorating the toy with eye and ear appurtenances.

, LOUELLA M. OPEL.

REFERENCES CITED V The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

on TED STATE s pm ms Number Name Date I I 1,498,635 Anderson Apr. 8, 1924 1,554,712 Clark Sept. 22, 1925 2,373,393 Hall Apr. 10, 1945 2,431,621 Sabanefi Nov. 25, 1947 2,433,307 Thomas Dec. 23-, 1947 2,433,555 Huls'e Dec. 30, 1947 2,450,695 Siefert 'et a1, Oct. 5, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 601,868 Germany Nov, 26, 1932 

